Beef Tips

Tag: calving ease

Balanced Nutrition Helps Minimize Calving Difficulty

By Jaymelynn Farney, Beef Systems Specialist, Parsons

The most commonly dreaded period in cow-calf production for spring calving herds is about to occur – calving out heifers.  There have been many strides from a genetic perspective that have reduced the proportion of heifers that need calving assistance.  This has been primarily accomplished by using high calving ease sires, high accuracy sires through AI, and heifer selection tools such as pre-breeding exams to evaluate pelvic size and shape.  All these tools help minimize the chance of calving difficulty.  However, if nutrition and body condition are not appropriate at calving, even if you made the best genetic decisions, you can be setting yourself up for a wreck at calving. Continue reading “Balanced Nutrition Helps Minimize Calving Difficulty”

Cull Cows; a disappointing failure or marketing opportunity

by Justin W. Waggoner, beef systems specialist

Most cattle operators view open cows, with some degree of disappointment. However, you might be surprised at the amount of revenue that can be realized from cull cow sales. Continue reading “Cull Cows; a disappointing failure or marketing opportunity”

Minimize dystocia in replacement heifers by using calving ease EPDs to select sires

by Bob Weaber, extension cow-calf specialist

When one begins the process of selection of bulls to produce replacement heifers, or bulls to be service sires of replacement heifers, a number of criteria come to mind. Certainly among these are breed composition and the contribution the bull may provide to direct and/or maternal heterosis, as well as a variety of growth, maternal and carcass traits. Perhaps among the most important is calving ease.

Continue reading “Minimize dystocia in replacement heifers by using calving ease EPDs to select sires”